Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle
IntermediateProsopocoilus lateralis
A small to medium saw stag beetle from Sulawesi and the Philippines. It is traded by subspecies and locality, and the largest captive record is 62.0mm from Sulawesi stock.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
20〜24℃
Lifespan
About 8-10 months as adults, the general rule for foreign saw stag beetles
Size
Males: captive record 62.0mm (Sulawesi), wild 60.4mm (Catanduanes); smallest captive record 20.0mm
Humidity
60〜80%
Diet
Beetle jelly; larvae on fermented substrate or fungus bottles
About
Prosopocoilus lateralis was described by Hope in 1845. The specimen records aggregated in GBIF cluster around Sulawesi in Indonesia and in the Philippines. The GBIF Backbone recognises the nominate form plus the subspecies lorquinii and adachii, while the hobby also handles bayanii from the Babuyan Islands and stock labelled Catanduanes, Luzon and Sulawesi. In the BE-KUWA 2025 edition the largest captive record is 62.0mm from Sulawesi, followed by Catanduanes at 60.8mm, bayanii at 60.0mm, the nominate form at 58.8mm and Luzon at 58.0mm; the wild record is 60.4mm from Catanduanes. A smallest captive record of 20.0mm is also listed, so individual and locality variation is wide. Care follows the standard routine for foreign saw stags at around 20-24C. Males have powerful mandibles, so pair under supervision.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle
The Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle lives About 8-10 months as adults, the general rule for foreign saw stag beetles.
Size of the Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle
The Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle grows to Males: captive record 62.0mm (Sulawesi), wild 60.4mm (Catanduanes); smallest captive record 20.0mm.
Temperature & humidity for the Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle
The ideal temperature for the Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle is 20〜24℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Indonesia (Sulawesi and nearby islands) and the Philippines (Luzon, the Babuyan Islands, Catanduanes and others)
Care Specifications
AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Moderate
Sources: Tsukiyono Kinokoen: Prosopocoilus giraffa rearing manual (general care for foreign saw stags) / BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha) / GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Breeding Records & Localities
Captive record (♂)
62 mm
Wild record (♂)
60.4 mm
Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Sulawesi: captive 62.0 mm, Hsieh Meng-Ting, registered 2025, wild 59.0 mm; Catanduanes: captive 60.8 mm, wild 60.4 mm; bayanii captive 60.0 mm; nominate captive 58.8 mm; Luzon captive 58.0 mm; smallest captive record 20.0 mm, Watanabe Fumihito, registered 2013)
Notable localities
SulawesiLuzonBabuyan IslandsCatanduanes
Regional subspecies
- Prosopocoilus lateralis lateralis（Nominate subspecies）
- Prosopocoilus lateralis lorquinii（Deyrolle, 1865）
- Prosopocoilus lateralis adachii（Fujita, 2010）
- Prosopocoilus lateralis bayanii（A name used in the BE-KUWA records and in the Japanese trade; not registered in the GBIF Backbone.） — Philippines (Babuyan Islands)
Generation codes
- WD
- Wild-caught
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
- Wikipedia
- Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea"
- CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
- Tsukiyono Kinokoen: Prosopocoilus giraffa rearing manual (general care for foreign saw stags)
- BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Prosopocoilus lateralis (Hope, 1845)
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Plant Protection Act: When importing live specimens of Scarabaeoidea (including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, flower beetles, etc.), a species identification certificate issued by the exporting country government agency or equivalent must be attached in accordance with the Invasive Species Act (import ports are limited to Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima airports). This species itself is not a designated invasive species, and import is possible upon submission of the certificate.
Sources: Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea" / CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Lateralis Saw Stag Beetle Listings
Loading latest listingsFind listings for this species
